As 2007 begins, 94% of people in the UK will turn their attention to planning their summer holiday – although one financial provider reckons 81% of us will be frustrated by the sheer amount of planning that goes into ensuring a successful break.

It is not just having to compare holiday insurance that bugs people. The main cause for concern is cost, which is not surprisng when it has been calculated that the cost of a family holiday to Spain averages a touch under £3,000, which even cheap holiday insurance hardly compensates for.

Given this, half try to plan their trips off-season, with a third wanting to miss the crowds. But about 15% of people cannot even agree on a destination, which adds to the stress of planning a perfect holiday.

Mike Freer, head of business development at NatWest International, said: “Family holidays should be fun and relaxing, but this isn’t always the case. The hassle and expense of arranging holidays can be hugely stressful.”

However, there is respite from the hassle. “With more than a quarter of a million Britons currently owning a foreign property, many feel that this resource makes family holidays more affordable and less stressful,” added Freer.